Andre Dirrell vs. James DeGale RBR

You know well as I do just because Dirrel was beaten by Degale doesn't mean Ward would have beaten him. Ward hasn't fought a top SMW since Froch. You can't give him credit for Frochs win over Bute , Bdou Jacks over Anthony Dirrel, or Degales over Andre Dirrels.

If that were the case Erik Morales should get credit for everyone PAC has beaten like Calzaghe should get credit for everyone Bhop has beaten since those fights. That's just not how boxing works as styles make fights.

 

I wasn't claiming that DeGale beating Dirrell proves Ward beats him. I'm saying that in this sport there are levels. A guy who is on Ward's level or above, the way many have claimed of Dirrell since both were unbeaten prospects, doesn't get thoroughly embarrassed by James DeGale (even though DeGale is himself very good and posed a stylistic puzzle for Dirrell with being a southpaw and having such fluid counter-punching and switch-hitting ability) in every single round that DeGale bothered to put in effort.

 

Thurman got promoted to full champ so you can probably tick him off too

 

Yes there are levels and Ward hasn't proven what level he is on in 3 years. With his injury and inactivity we don't how he would do against Dirrel or Degale. Now Ward is fighting Smith which will tell us almost nothing either.

 

...it doesn't matter what a useless shelf-rider Ward has been the last three years. He already proved his worth. Dirrell was never his level.

 

He didn't win damnit. ****

 

Who, DeGale?

With the knockdowns, best you can argue for Dirrell is a draw. :nono

 

We know Ward has a shaky chin since we saw him get dropped like a sack of potatoes by journeyman Darnell Boone. In DeGale's place, Ward would have gone down from Dirrell's powershots. DeGale was able to stay on his feet because he has a solid chin.

Ward is so intelligent outside of the ring that he can observe and finally pinpoint the few select fighters who have the tools to beat him. I believe those fighters all have certain things in common: speed, skills and power. That's why he ducked Bute and Dirrell, and will also duck DeGale.

Ward has always fought guys with little speed. Froch, Kessler, and Bika all had power but he just avoided their punches because they were slower than him. Ward is like Floyd: loves fighting punchers who have no chance of ever landing on him. Their careers are just a series of Ali-Foremans, and every time the gullible fanboys say "wow, he just outclassed that big puncher!"

 

Really, Ward's modus operandi does tell us something. In his entire career he has never fought a slick boxer, and in fact has admittedly avoided Bute and Dirrell. What does that tell you?

Like Sherlock Holmes said, eliminate the impossible and you'll be left with the truth.

 

Boone, to this day, is the only one to hurt Ward and it´s not like hes the only one who ever landed a good shot on him.

 

Yes. No. Degale won. No?